In many parts of China, especially in the metropoles of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, English is fairly widely known and generally quite accurately used as well. However, it is no surprise that in a country with so many different dialects, the Chinese have seemingly created their own dialect of English, referred to, by discerning scholars such as myself, as “Chinglish”. The specifics of the inception of this language is still unclear, however it is commonly practiced in advertising and in markets throughout the country.

I imagine most Laowais’ (including my own) Chinese writing probably is far more questionable, but enjoy some of my favorite findings from my time in Beijing, Shenzhen and elsewhere!

 

 

I kept trying but couldn’t quite master the careful part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While it sounds delicious, I generally try to stay away from embryos in my milk tea. In this case 胚芽 is actually some kind of grain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This literally means “Saving is a virtue”, but I really couldn’t put this as eloquently as the Chinese.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This could explain why Chinese seem to avoid throwing garbage into trash cans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe the proper translation would have been “FFRCBWIHF HDWWGWD RDKDHS YIBFKFJD”

 

 

 

 

 

 

By far the most profound instructions that I have ever received, taken from a sign outside the Forbidden City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bought this cap at a Walmart in Beijing. They were all out of Harvard Unlversityersity ones.